Detection of HPV16 viral load in L2 gene as a related predictor of cervical cancer among women in Dhi-Qar province by qRT-PCR.

Background: The most common infection among young women that increases the risk of developing cervical cancer (CC) is human papillomavirus (HPV). In this study, we are going to assess whether HPV16 DNA concentration helps indicate cervical cancer progression ,As well as for age groups and their relationship to cervical cancer.

Methods: Present study included 93 adult females suffering from cervical cancer during the period from 2017 to 2020. Molecular detection of HPV was done using amplification of the L2 gene (minor capsid protein).

Results: Present results showed that 60 (65%) of the patients from 93 cervical cancer cases were infected by HPV16 while only 5 (8%) of healthy patients from the control group were positive for HPV16. So, the current study revealed high HPV16 load in cervical cancer ranged from 1.09 × 10 IU/ml to 5.07 × 10 IU/ml with a mean ± SD of viral load was 1043.25 ± 8.50 IU/ml while in healthy individuals very low viral load ranging from 88 IU/ml to 101 IU/ml and mean ± SD of viral load was 91.25 ± 2.90 IU/ml was reported.

Conclusion: HPV16 viral load is significantly associated with cervical carcinoma among women in Dhi-Qar Province.